Ian McKellen stars in teaser for Theatre Royal Windsor's Hamlet
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Winning nearly every award possible for his acting, Sir Ian is also recognised in the LGBTQ+ community for his activism work. In October 2014 he was awarded the Freedom of the City of London for his part in setting up the campaign group Stonewall UK and for supporting Pride London. In his most recent role the actor reprised the lead in Shakespeare’s Hamlet, 50 years since he first appeared as the protagonist. Yet the casting decision gained much criticism due to the actors’ older age.
These “age blind” productions are a rarity in UK theatre and as the actor has spoken about himself, problems with memory loss could be the reason why.
In an interview with Radio Times Sir Ian said: “We all have limitations, don’t we, however old we are.
“But there are times in life when the memory really does get worse and the mind doesn’t work as it should.
“And if you were to get to the stage where you couldn’t remember anything at all, well, that would be very distressing.”
When appearing in a BBC drama alongside fellow acting legend Sir Anthony Hopkins, Sir Ian said it took him around six months to learn his lines for a two-hour televised play.
“Age should come with a health warning,” the actor added.
Although talking frankly about “limitations,” fans of the actor can breathe a sigh of relief as he followed up his comments with: “Fortunately I’m not there yet.”
No one can escape the inevitability of memory loss as they get older.
It is important to know the distinction between when memory loss is mild and when it is a sign to something more serious.
Memory loss as you get older is known medically as Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI).
Research conducted by Alzheimer’s Research UK has shown that one or two in every 10 people over the age of 65 have MCI.
Despite the high statistics, MCI does not cause problems with everyday activities or life.
The difference between MCI and Dementia
Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe a group of symptoms that affect an individual’s ability to carry out daily activities without assistance.
Concerns about memory loss should start if memory loss gets increasingly worse or an individual’s behaviour or mood also starts to change.
Someone with early dementia may not remember things that recently happened and also struggle to talk, whereas someone with MCI may only have one of these symptoms.
Those who do have MCI possess a risk gene known as APOE4.
As Alzheimer’s Research UK explains, this means that those with MCI are more at risk of developing dementia, but it is not guaranteed.
Currently around one in 10 people with MCI also develop dementia.
If you are worried about your memory, the NHS advises to seek professional medical attention as soon as possible.
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